^5 


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REPORT 


% 


HISTORY  AND  RECENT  COLLATION 


ENGLISH  VERSION  OF  THE  BIBLE: 


FBE8ENTBD  BY  THE 


COMMITTEE  ON  VERSIONS  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  MANAGERS 


AMERICAN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


AND  ADOPTED,  MAT  1,  1851. 


PRINTED  AT  THE 

AMERICAN  BIBLE  SOCIETY'S  PRK SS, 

ASTOH  FLACE,  NEW  YOKK. 


OCC    T  1912         \ 

REPORT  " ^ 


HISTORY  AND  RECENT  COLLATION 


EMLISI  YEESIOI  OE  THE  BIBLE: 


PKEBENTED  BY   THE 


COMMITTEE  ON  VERSIONS  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  MANAGERS 


'American  bible  society. 


AND  ADOPTED,  MAY  1,  1851. 


PRINTED   AT   THE 
AMERICAN  BIBLE  SOCIETY'S  TRESS. 

ASIOR  PLACE,  NEW  YOKK. 

18  57, 


999\  ^     030 


^>; 


^n 


REPORT 


COMMITTEE   ON  VERSIONS. 


To  THE  Board  of  Managers  of  the  American  Bjble  Society  : 

The  Committee  on  Versions,  to  whom  the  subject  of  collating 
the  editions  of  the  English  Bible  published  by  this  Society  with 
those  issued  in  Grreat  Britain, was  referred  in  the  year  1847,  res- 
pectfully beg  leave  to  present  this  as  their  full  and  final  Report. 

Three  years  and  a  half  have  now  elapsed,  since  the  subject  of 
such  a  collation  was  first  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Commit- 
tee. They  have  regarded  it  from  the  beginning  as  a  matter  of 
high  importance  ;  connected  as  it  is  with  the  purity  of  that  Holy 
Word,  which  it  is  the  object  and  business  of  this  Society  to  diffuse 
as  widely  as  possible.  Having  now  brought  their  work  to  a  close, 
the  Committee  would,  first  of  all,  render  thanks  to  God,  for  the 
favour  with  which  he  has  vouchsafed  to  attend  them  in  their 
labours  ;  for  the  mutual  feelings  of  Christian  respect  and  afTcction, 
accompanied  by  entie  unanimity  of  action,  which  he  has  enabled 
them  to  cherish  ;  and  for  the  preservation  of  their  lives  and  health 
during  so  long  a  period. 

Since  the  commencement  of  the  work,  only  a  single  clianf^e 
has  taken  pkce  in  the  Committee  itself;  occasioned  by  the  re- 
tirement of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Peck,  and  the  accession  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
M'Clintock  in  his  place.  One  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Society, 
who  met  with  us  during  the  first  year,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Levings,  has 
been  called  to  his  eternal  reward;  and  is  now,  we  doubt  not,  re- 
joicing in  the  trutli  of  G-od's  perfect  Word  unclouded  by  any 
admixture  of  human  imperfection. 

From  the  other  Secretaries  of  the  Society,  who  have  often  met 
with  us,  the  Rev.  Drs.  Brigiiam  and  Holdich,  the  Committee  have 
received  much  aid  and  many  valuable  suggestions. 


4  REPORT    OF    THE 

Before  proceeding  to  spealc  in  detail  of  their  own  labours,  the 
Committee  beg  leave  to  present  a  brief  summary  of  the  facts 
relating  to  the  origin  and  history  of  the  present  English  Version. 
In  this  way  the  Board  will  be  the  better  able  to  apprehend  the 
nature  and  character  of  the  revisions  heretofore  made,  by  which 
the  English  Bible  has  been  brought  into  its  present  form  ;  as  also 
to  judge  of  the  importance  and  necessity  of  the  collation,  in  which 
the  Committee  have  been  engaged. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  PRESENT  VERSION. 

Besides  the  translation  of  Wickliffe,  completed  about  A.D.  1380, 
but  existing  until  quite  recently  only  in  manuscript,  six  Protestant 
Englisli  versions  had  been  printed  and  circulated,  anterior  to  the 
one  now  in  use. 

The  earliest  published  English  Bible  was  that  of  Tyndal.  The 
New  Testament  was  printed  in  Holland,  in  1526  and  several  times 
afterwards ;  the  Pentateuch  at  Hamburg  in  1530.  This  version 
was  followed  in  1535  by  Coverdale\s  translation  of  the  whole  Bi- 
ble ;  which  was  twice  republished,  in  1550  and  1553.  Mattheiv^s 
Bible,  so  called,  was  printed  in  1537,  in  Hamburg  or  some  other 
part  of  G-ermany.  The  name  Thomas  Matthew  is  understood  to 
be  fictitious ;  and  the  work  seems  to  have  been  mainly  made  up 
from  the  translations  of  Tyndal  and  Coverdale.  According  to  some, 
the  real  editor  was  the  martyr  John  Rogers. 

In  1539  was  published  Cranmer^s  or  the  Great  Bible,  in  folio, 
printed  at  London  by  G-rafton  and  Whitchurch,  king's  printers ; 
and  hence  sometimes  known  also  as  Whitchurch's  Bible.  This 
was  a  revision  of  Matthew's  version ;  and  measures  were  taken 
to  have  it  kept  in  the  churches  and  publicly  read.  Other  editions 
appeared  in  1540.  ^ 

The  Geneva  Bible,  so  called,  was  translated  at  Greneva  by 
English  scholars,  who  had  taken  refuge  there  during  the  reign  of 
Queen  Mary.  The  New  Testament  was  printed  at  G-eneva  in 
1557  ;  and  the  whole  Bible  in  1560.  This  version  was  reprinted 
at  London  in  1572,  and  often  afterwards. 

In  1568  appeared  the  Bishops^  Bible,  so  called,  in  folio.  It 
was  a  revision  of  Cranmer's  or  the  Great  Bible,  by  archbishop 
Parker  and  other  bishops  ;  and  took  the  place  of  Cranmer's  Bible  as 
the  authorized  English  version. 


COMMITTEE    OX   VERSIONS.  5 

At  the  accession  of  king  James  I,  in  1603,  the  two  versions 
last  named,  the  Bishops'  Bible  and  the  Geneva  Bible,  were  those 
mainly  in  use  in  England ;  the  former  authorized  to  be  publicly 
read  in  the  churches,  and  the  latter  mostly  used  in  private  fam- 
ilies. 

The  immediate  occasion  of  the  present  translation  was  the 
celebrated  Hampton  Court  Conference,  held  before  the  king,  Jan. 
12th,  1604.  On  the  second  day.  Dr.  Reynolds,  the  leader  of  the 
Puritans,  proposed  to  the  kmg,  that  there  should  be  a  new  trans- 
lation of  the  Bible,  because  of  the  imperfections  of  the  former 
versions.  The  king  entertained  the  proposal ;  with  the  understand- 
ing, that  the  new  version  should  "last  of  all  be  ratified  by  his 
royal  authority,  and  so  the  whole  church  be  bound  to  this  trans- 
lation, and  not  to  use  any  other,"  Accordingly,  before  the  middle 
of  the  same  year,  1604,  the  king  commissioned  a  large  number 
of  scholars  of  both  the  Universities  and  elsewhere,  to  meet,  and  con- 
sult together,  in  order  to  make  a  new  and  more  correct  translation 
of  the  Bible.  These  were  divided  into  six  classes,  comprising  forty- 
seven  persons,  whose  names  are  given;  who  were  to  meet  at 
Westminster,  Cambridge,  and  Oxford,  two  classes  in  each  place. 
The  original  Scriptures,  including  the  Apocrypha,  were  in  like 
manner  divided  into  six  portions ;  one  of  which  was  assigned  to 
each  class  for  translation.  Certain  rules,  prescribed  by  the  king, 
were  transmitted  to  the  translators  by  the  bishop  of  London,  at 
midsummer  1604.  Among  these  the  following  serve  to  mark 
definitely  the  character  of  the  translation  and  the  manner  of  pro- 
ceeding. 

"1.  The  ordinary  Bible  read  in  the  Church,  commonly  called 
The  Bishops^  Bible,  to  be  followed,  and  as  little  altered  as  the 
original  will  permit. 

"  14.  These  translations  to  be  used  when  they  agree  better 
with  the  text  than  the  Bishops'  Bible,  viz.  TjjndaVs^  Coverdale^s, 
Mattheiu^s,  Whitchurch^ s  [i.e.  Crarvnier''s],  Geneva. 

"6.  No  marginal  notes  at  all  to  be  aflixed,  but  only  for  the 
explanation  of  the  Hebrew  or  Greek  words,  which  cannot,  without 
some  circumlocution,  so  briefly  and  fitly  be  expressed  in  the  text. 

"  7.  Such  quotations  of  places  to  be  marginally  set  down,  as 
shall  serve  for  the  fit  references  of  one  Scripture  to  another. 

"  8.  Every  particular  man  of  each  company  to  take  the  same 
chapter  or  chapters ;  and,  having  translated  or  amended  them 


6  REPORT   OF   THE 

severally  by  himself  where  he  thmks  good,  all  to  meet  together,  to 
confer  what  tliey  have  done,  and  agree  for  their  part  what  shall 
stand. 

"9.  As  any  one  company  hath  dispatched  any  one  boolc  in 
this  manner,  they  shall  send  it  to  the  rest,  to  be  considered  of 
seriously  and.  judiciously." 

Besides  these  forty-seven  translators,  it  appears  that  "  three 
or  four  of  the  most  eminent  and  grave  divines  of  each  university" 
were  appointed,  to  be  overseers  of  the  translations  ;  and  these  with 
the  others  probably  made  up  the  number  of  fifty-four  mentioned 
in  the  king's  letter  of  July  22nd,  1604. 

After  the  work  was  actually  commenced,  more  than  three 
years,  or,  as  the  original  Preface  has  it,  "twice  seven  times  sev- 
enty-two days  and  more,"  were  spent  by  the  several  companies 
in  completing  the  first  draught  of  the  new  version.  When  thus 
far  finished,  three  copies  of  the  whole  Bible  were  sent  to  London ; 
one  from  Cambridge,  one  from  Oxford,  and  one  from  Westminster 
From  the  companies  in  these  several  places,  two  persons  were  now 
selected  from  each  place,  six  in  all,  who  met  in  London  to  review 
the  whole  work,  and  prepare  one  copy  from  the  three,  to  be  com- 
mitted  to  the  press.  Their  labours  extended  through  three  quar- 
ters of  a  year.  "Last  of  all,  Bilson  bishop  of  AVinchester,  and 
Dr.  Myles  Smith  afterwards  bishop  of  Grloucester,  again  reviewed 
the  whole  w^ork,  and  prefixed  arguments  to  the  several  books ; " 
by  which  "arguments"  are  probably  intended  the  contents  of  the 
chapters,  etc.  Dr.  Smith  also  wrote  the  Preface.  The  translation 
thus  laboriously  and  faithfully  prepared,  was  first  printed  and 
published  in  A.D.  1611,  in  folio,  and  in  the  old  black  letter. 

In  the  Preface  the  translators  say :  "We  never  thought  from  the 
beginning,  that  we  should  need  to  make  a  new  translation,  nor 
yet  to  make  of  a  bad  one  a  good  one ;  but,  to  make  a  good  one 
better,  or  out  of  many  good  ones  one  principal  good  one,  not  just- 
ly to  be  excepted  against,  that  hath  been  our  endeavour,  that  our 
marlc."  This  is  doubtless  a  true  and  appropriate  statement  of  the 
object  and  motives,  which  these  eminent  persons  had  before  their 
minds,  in  executing  the  great  work  thus  solemnly  committed  to 
their  charge.  They  claimed  no  infallibility  for  themselves,  nor 
for  their  labours.  The  work  assigned  them  was  strictly  a  revision 
of  the  Bishops'  Bible ;  which  itself  had  gro\\ai  up  out  of  all  the 
preceding  versions.    But  they  every  where  took  the  original  »Scrip- 


COMMITTEE    ON   VERSIONS.  7 

tures  as  their  basis ;  diligently  comparing  likewise  all  the  former 
translations.  In  this  way  they  certainly  succeeded  in  making 
"one  principal  good  translation,  not  justly  to  be  excepted  against." 
Yet  notwithstanding  all  their  care  and  diligence,  their  own  first 
edition  exhibits  some  grave  errors  of  the  press ;  most  of  which 
were  speedily  corrected  in  subsequent  editions. 

Such  was  the  origin  of  this  venerable  and  truly  national 
work ;  which  immediately  became  the  standard  English  Bible, 
and  superseded  all  the  other  versions.  Confined  at  first  to  the 
limited  territory  of  the  British  Islands,  and  intended  only  for  a 
population  of  a  few  millions,  it  had  the  effect  at  once  to  develope 
and  fix  the  structure  and  character  of  the  English  lansfuaire  ;  and 
with  that  language  it  has  since  been  borne  abroad  even  to  the 
ends  of  the  earth.  And  now,  during  the  lapse  of  almost  two  and 
a  half  centuries,  it  has  gladdened  the  hearts,  and  still  glad- 
dens the  hearts,  of  millions  upon  millions,  not  only  in  G-reat 
Britain,  but  throughout  North  America  and  India,  in  portions  of 
Africa,  and  in  Australia.  At  the  present  day,  the  English  is 
probably  the  vernacular  tongue  of  more  millions  than  any  other 
one  language  under  heaven;  and  the  English  Bible  has  brought 
and  still  brings  home  the  knowledge  of  God's  revealed  truth  to 
myriads  more  of  minds,  than  ever  received  it  through  the  original 
tongues. 

The  translators  little  foresaw  the  vast  results  and  immeasur- 
able influence  of  what  they  had  thus  done,  both  for  time  and 
for  eternity.  Venerated  men  !  their  very  names  are  now  hardly 
known  to  more  than  a  few  persons  ;  yet,  in  the  providence  of  G-od, 
the  fruits  of  their  labours  have  spread  to  far  distant  climes ;  have 
laid  broad  and  deep  the  foundations  of  mighty  empires ;  have 
afforded  to  multitudes  strength  to  endure  adversity,  and  grace  to 
resist  the  temptations  of  prosperity ;  and  only  the  revelations  of 
the  judgment  day  can  disclose,  how  many  millions  and  millions, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  their  labours,  have  been  made  wise 
unto  salvation. 

The  English  Bible,  as  left  by  the  translators,  has  come  down 
to  us  unaltered  in  respect  to  its  text ;  except  in  the  changes  of 
orthography  which  the  whole  English  language  has  undergone,  to 
which  the  version  has  naturally  and  properly  been  conformed ; 
and  excepting  also  the  slight  variations  and  discrepancies,  which 
in  so  long  an  interval  must  necessarily  arise,  by  reason  of  human 


8  REPORT    OF    THE 

imperfection,  in  the  preparation  and  printing  of  so  many  millions 
of  copies. 

The  exposure  to  variations  from  this  latter  source  is  naturally 
greater,  wherever  the  printing  of  the  Bible  is  at  the  option  of  ev- 
ery one  who  chooses  to  undertake  it,  without  restriction  and  with- 
out supervision ;  as  in  this  country  since  the  Revolution.  In  Great 
Britain,  where  the  printing  has  been  done  only  under  royal  au- 
thority, by  the  Universities  of  Cambridge  and  Oxford,  and  the 
king's  printers  in  London  and  Edinburgh,  the  like  exposure  does 
not  exist  in  the  same  degree ;  although,  even  there,  slight  varia- 
tions are  continually  manifesting  themselves  between  the  copies 
bearing  these  different  imprints.  This  will  appear  more  fully  in 
the  sequel. 

In  respect  to  the  accessories  of  the  text,  comprehending  the 
contents  of  the  chapters,  the  running  heads  of  the  columns,  the 
marginal  readings  and  references,  and  the  chronology,  the  Bibles 
of  the  present  day  are  much  less  conformed  to  the  original  edition. 
The  translators,  as  we  have  seen,  were  to  append  "no  marginal 
notes  at  all,  but  only  for  the  explanation  of  the  Hebrew  or  Greek 
words;"  and  also  "fit  references  of  one  Scripture  to  another." 
To  this  requirement  the  early  editions  were  entirely  conformed ; 
and  the  marginal  references  were  very  few.  In  the  lapse  of  time, 
however,  extensive  changes  and  additions  have  been  made  in  most 
of  the  above  particulars.  The  contents  of  the  chapters  only  have 
been  preserved  in  the  editions  of  larger  size,  without  very  great 
variation  ;  while  in  copies  of  a  smaller  form,  these  likewise  have 
been  frequently  and  variously  altered  and  abbreviated. 

VARIOUS  EDITIONS  AND  REVISIONS. 

The  following  is  a  brief  summary  of  the  periods  and  editions, 
in  which  these  changes  seem  to  have  been  first  made. 

An  edition  of  king  James'  Bible  was  printed  in  octavo  at 
Amsterdam,  in  1664,  with  a  preface  by  John  Canne,  a  leader  of  the 
English  Brownists.  His  purpose  was  to  make  Scripture  the  inter- 
preter of  Scripture,  by  the  addition  of  important  marginal  referen- 
ces "so  far  as  the  margin  could  contain."  This  edition,  M'ith  the 
preface  and  references  of  Canne,  was  several  times  reprinted  by 
the  king's  printers  in  Edinburgh  and  London.  There  were  editions 
by  them  in  1696,  1698,  1701,  1762,  1766,  etc. 


COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS.  » 

In  England  "  many  parallel  texts,"  were  added  by  Dr.  Scat- 
tergood,  in  an  edition  published  at  Cambridge  in  1678. 

Two  years  later,  1680,  an  edition  was  issued  at  Oxford,  with 
the  insertion  of  Usher's  chronology. 

More  important  was  the  Bible  published  in  folio  and  quarto 
in  1701,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Tenison,  archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury. In  this  edition  Dr.  Lloyd,  then  bishop  of  Worcester, 
added  the  chronological  dates  at  the  head  of  the  columns,  and  a 
further  collection  of  parallel  Scriptures.  At  the  end  were  also 
appended  tables  of  Scripture  measures,  weights,  and  coins,  by  Dr. 
Cumberland,  bishop  of  Peterborough. 

This  edition  was  disfigured  by  typographical  errors  to  such  a 
degree,  that  the  lower  house  of  Convocation,  in  1703,  made  a  rep- 
resentation on  the  subject  to  the  archbishops  and  bishops.  But 
the  careless  prmting  of  the  Bible  still  continued,  and  was  carried 
to  such  a  height,  in  respect  both  to  correctness  and  paper,  that  at 
last  complaint  was  made  to  king  George  I.  That  monarch 
in  consequence  issued  an  order  to  the  patentees  for  printing  Bi- 
bles, dated  April  24th  1724,  directing  that  "  they  shall  employ 
such  correctors  of  the  press,  and  allow  them  such  salaries,  as  shall 
be  approved  from  time  to  time  by  the  archbishop  of  Canterbury 
and  the  bishop  of  London  for  the  time  being."  * 

At  a  later  period,  in  an  edition  published  at  Cambridge,  Dr. 
Paris  made  largo  corrections  in  respect  to  the  words  printed  in 
Italic.  This  fact  is  mentioned  by  Dr.  Blaney ;  but  we  have  seen 
no  further  account  of  the  edition. 

The  most  complete  revision  of  the  English  Bible  was  that 
undertaken  at  Oxford  by  Dr.  Blaney,  about  A.  D.  1767,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Vice  Chancellor  and  other  Delegates  of  the  Clar- 
endon press.  According  to  his  instructions,  the  Oxford  copies 
•were  carefully  collated  with  the  folio  edition  of  1611,  that  of 
Dr.  Lloyd  in  1701,  and  two  Cambridge  editions  of  a  late  date. 
The  work  occupied  between  three  and  four  years ;  and  in  1769 
both  a  quarto  and  a  folio  edition  were  published  at  the  Clarendon 
press ;  of  which  the  folio  was  supposed  to  be  the  most  perfect. 
The  editor  remarks,  that  "many  errors  found  in  former  editions 
have  been  corrected,  and  tiie  text  reformed  to  such  a  standard  of 

*  Thus  far  the  facts  respectirifr  the  origin  and  historj'  of  the  autliorized  Version  have 
been  mainly  drawn  from  Lewis'  History  of  the  several  Translations  of  the  Bible  into 
English,  second  edition,  London,  173'>),  8vo.    See  also  the  authorities  there  cited. 


10  REPORT    OF    THE 

purity,  as,  it  is  presumed,  is  not  to  be  met  with  in  any  other  edi- 
tion hitherto  extant." — The  points  upon  which  particular  atten- 
tion M'as  bestowed,  were  the  following  : 

1.  The  punctuation  was  revised,  in  order  to  express  the  true 
sense,  and  also  to  ensure  uniformity,  as  far  as  possible. 

2.  As  to  the  words  printed  in  Italic,  the  Hebrew  and  G-reek 
originals  were  compared,  and  many  alterations  made.  These 
changes  were  all  submitted  previously  to  the  Select  Committee,  and 
especially  to  the  Vice  Chancellor  of  Hertford  College  and  Mr. 
"Wheeler,  Professor  of  Poetry. 

3.  In  the  heads  or  contents  of  the  chapters,  likewise,  consider- 
able alterations  were  made.  On  these  much  labour  was  expended 
by  the  editor  ;  as  also  by  the  two  gentlemen  above  named,  and  by 
Mr.  G-riffith  of  Pembroke  College  and  the  (then)  late  Warden  of 
New  College  ;  by  whom  the  suggestions  of  the  editor  were  correct- 
ed and  improved. 

4.  The  running  titles  over  the  columns  had  to  be  adapted, 
to  editions  of  different  size. 

5.  The  Hebrew  proper  names,  where  the  text  contains  an 
allusion  to  their  meaning,  were  more  fully  translated  in  the 
margin. 

6.  Obvious  and  material  errors  in  the  chronology  were  rec- 
tified. 

7.  The  marginal  references  were  carefully  compared  and  cor- 
rected, and  many  new  ones  added,  particularly  from  what  is 
mentioned  as  a  "  Scotch  edition."  The  new  references  are  said 
to  have  amounted  to  the  number  of  30,495,  or  about  thirty  to  each 
page  on  an  average.*" 

This  edition  of  the  Bible  by  Dr.  Blaney  has  been  regarded, 
ever  since  its  publication,  as  the  standard  copy ;  to  which  all 
subsequent  issues  in  England  have  been  conformed.  A  beautiful 
edition  in  quarto  was  published  in  London  by  Eyre  and  Strahan, 
printed  by  Woodfall,  in  1806,  and  again  in  1813.  In  carrying 
this  copy  through  the  press,  it  is  said  that  one  hundred  and  six- 
teen errors  were  detected  in  Blaney's  edition  ;  one  of  them  an  omis- 
sion of  some  importance. 

*  The  preceding  details  are  taken  from  Dr.  Blaney's  Report  to  the  Vice  Cliancellor  and 
other  Delegates  of  the  Clarendon  Press,  dated  Oct.  25th  1769,  and  printed  in  the  Gentleman^s 
Magazine  for  Xov.  JTCO,  Vol.  XXXIX.  p.  517  sq.  The  number  of  new  marginal  references 
is  given  in  the  Encydop.  Mdropol.  art.  Bible. 


COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS. 


REPRINT  OF  THE  ORIGLNAL  EDITION. 


)1 


Your  Committee  are  not  aware,  that  any  later  general  revision 
or  collation  of  the  English  Bible  has  taken  plaee  in  Grreat  Britain. 
About  twenty  years  ago,  the  public  mind,  in  that  country  and  in 
our  own,  was  for  a  time  agitated  by  the  charge  openly  made 
against  our  present  English  Bibles,  that  they  had  been  greatly 
corrupted  from  the  original  edition ;  and  that  what  we  now  have 
is  not  the  English  version  as  prepared  by  king  James'  translators. 
In  consequence  of  this  charge,  the  Clarendon  Press  issued  in  1833, 
in  quarto,  an  exact  reprint  in  Roman  letter  of  the  folio  edition  of 
1611  in  black  letter.  "  The  reprint  is  so  exact,  as  to  agree  with 
the  original  edition  page  for  page,  and  letter  for  letter  ;  retaining 
throughout  the  ancient  mode  of  spelling  and  punctuation,  and 
even  the  most  manifest  errors  of  the  press." 

The  publication  of  this  reprint  tranquillized  the  public  mind ; 
for  it  presented  ocular  demonstration,  that,  with  the  exception  of 
typographical  errors,  and  of  the  changes  conformed  to,  and  required 
by,  the  progress  of  orthography  in  the  English  language,  the  text 
of  our  present  Bibles  remains  unchanged,  and  is  without  variation 
from  the  original  copy  as  left  by  the  translators. 

Appended  to  this  reprint  is  a  collation  made  with  one  of  the 
copies  of  the  year  1613,  two  years  after  the  original  edition.  The 
variations  are  about  375  in  number,  exclusive  of  the  Apocrypha. 
\yhcthcr  the  editions  of  1613  were  printed  under  the  supervision 
of  the  translators,  probably  cannot  now  be  known.  The  variations 
may  be  divided  into  three  classes,  viz.  Manifest  errors  of  the  press 
in  the  copy  of  1611 ;  Manifest  errors  of  the  press  in  the  copy  of 
1613 ;  Other  variations  from  the  reading  of  1611,  but  whether 
with  or  without  design  is  not  always  certain.  "We  subjoin  speci- 
mens of  each  class,  in  the  modern  orthography.  It  may  be  proper 
here  to  add,  that  with  tiie  exception  of  the  first  class,  or  errors  of 
the  press,  the  present  copies  of  the  Bible  accord  throughout  with 
the  edition  of  1611. 

1.    MANIFEST  ERRORS  OF  THE  PRESS  IN  16n. 

1611.  \(ji\2  and  present  copies. 

Ex.  4, 10.  O  my  lord,  [said  of  Jehovah]  0  my  Lord, 

"  1-1,  10.  the  children  of  Israel  lift  up  their        the  children  of  Israel  lifted  up  their 

eyes,  and  behold,  the  F.j^yptians        eyes,  and  behold,   the  Kiryptians 
marched  after  them,  and   they        marched   after    them ;    and    they 


12 


REPORT    OF    THE 


Ex.  38,  11. 
Lev.  4,  35. 

"  13,  5(3. 

"  17,  14. 

"  18,    3. 
Num.  16,  3. 
Ezra  3,  f). 
Is.  13, 8.21,3. 

"  49,  20. 
Jer.  5,  24. 

"  22,    3. 

"  36,  21. 

"  50,23, 
Ez.  6,   8. 

"  14, 18. 

"2-4,    7. 
Hos.  6,  5. 
Mic.  7,  7. 
Mai.  1,  8. 
Matt.   6,3. 
"     8, 25. 
"     13, 4. 
1  Cor.  11,  2. 


were  sore  afraid:  and  tlie  cliil- 

dren  oflsracl  lift  up  thcircycs,and 

behold,  tlic  Egyptians  marched 

after  them,  and  they  were  sore 

afraid :  and  the  children  of  Israel 

cried  out  unto  the  Lokd. 

hoops  of  the  pillars 

shall  burnt  them 

the  plainc  be 

Ye  shall  not  eat 

doings  of  land  of  Canaan 

lift  you  up 

willingly  offred,  oflTcrcd  a  free 

woman  that  travellctb 

too  straight  for  me 

rain  . . .  the  later 

deliver  the  spoiler 

fet  the  roll 

hath  done  unto  her 

that  he  may  have 

sons  nor  daughter 

poured  it  upon 

shewed  tliem  by  the  prophets 

unto  you  the  Lord 

And  if  he  offer 

what  thy  right  doeth 

and  awoke,  saying 

by  the  way's  side 

that  vou  remember  me 


were  sore  afraid:  and  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  cried  out  unto  the 
Lord. 

[A  printer's  doublet.] 


hooks  of  the  pillars 

shall  burn  them 

the  plague  he 

Ye  shall  cat 

doings  of  the  land  of  Canaan 

lift  ye  up 

willingly  offered  a  free 

woman  that  travaileth 

too  strait  for  me 

rain  . . .  the  latter 

deliver  tlie  spoiled 

fetch  the  roll 

hath  done,  do  unto  her 

that  ye  may  have 

sons  nor  daughters 

poured  it  not  upon 

hewed  them  by  the  prophets 

unto  the  Lord 

and  if  ye  offer 

what  thy  right  hand  doeth 

and  awoke  him,  sajung 

by  the  waj'  side 

that  ye  remember  me 


2.     MANIFEST  EEROKS  OF  THE  PRESS  IN  1C13. 


1011  and  present  copies. 

Gen.  42,  31.  we  said  unto  him 

Lev.  7,  25,  the  fat  of  the  beast 

'■    19, 10.  Shalt  not  glean 

"   26,  24.  also  walk  contrary 

Num.  15, 38.  make  them  fringes 

Deut.  5,  33.  that  ye  may  prolong 

"    12,  21.  thou  Shalt  kill 

"    19,    5.  slippeth  from  the  helve 

1  Sam.  14,  28.  father  straitly  charged 

1  Kings  3, 15.  and  offered  peace  offerings 

"  20,  3.  even  the  goodliest 

2  Kings  22,  3.  eighteenth  year  of 

1  Chr.  26,  31.  at  Jazcr  of  Gilead 

2  Chr.  0,  10.  in  the  room  of  David 

Ezra  9,  2.  the  hand  of  the  princes  .  .  ,  hath 

been  chief 

Neh.  10,  31.  Mc  would  leave  the 

Job  29,  3.  I  walked  throuc/h  darkness 

Is.  59,  7.  .«hed  innocent  blood 

Ez.  5,  5.  This  is  Jerusalem 

"  23.  7.  she  defiled  herself 


1613. 

we  said  unto  them 
the  fast  of  the  beast 
shalt  glean 
also  wake  contrary 
make  their  fringes 
that  you  may  prolong 
thou  shall  kill 
slippeth  from  the  helme 
father  straightly  charged 

Omitted 
even  thy  goodliest 
eighteenth  were  of 
as  Jazer  of  Gilead 
in  the  throne  of  David 
the  hand  of  the  princes 

been  chief 
we  would  not  leave  the 
I  shined  through  darkness 
shed  blood 
Thus  is  Jerusalem 
she  delighted  herself 


liave 


COMMITTEE    ON   VERSIONS. 


13 


Dan.  4,  13. 

a  watcher  and  an  holy  one  came 

a  watcher  holy  and  an  one  came 

llos.  13,  3. 

smoke  out  of  the  chimney 

smoke  out  the  chimney 

Ilab.  2, 5. 

nations,  and  lieapeth  unto  him  all 

Omitted 

Miitt.  13,  8. 

some  sixty  fold 

Omitted 

•'    10,11. 

I  spake  it  not  to  you  concerning 
bread,  that 

Omitted 

Luke  5,  30. 

But  tlieir  scribes 

But  the  scribes 

"     8,    2. 

And  certain  women,  which 

And  a  certain  woman  which 

John  6,  16. 

down  unto  the  sea 

down  into  the  sea 

"  20,25. 

put  my  finger  into  the  print  of  the 
nails,  and 

Omitted 

1  Cor.  11,  17. 

I  praise  j/ou  not,  that 

I  praise  you  that 

2  Cor.  2,  8. 

would  confirm  your  lovo 

would  continue  your  love 

Heb.  7,  11. 

another  priest  should  rise 

another  should  rise 

3.    OTHER  VAKIATIONS  FROM  THE  READING  OF  IGII. 


1611  and  present  copies. 

Gen.  2,  21.  and  shall  cleave 

"    3,  5.  day  ye  eat  thereof,  then  j'our 

"  12, 14.  she  was  very  fair 

"  25, 19.  are 

"  27,  44.  fury  turn  away 

45.  of  you  both  in  one  day 

"  39,   6.  bread  which  lie  did  eat 

Lev.  26,  40.  the  iniquity 

Num.  3,  41.  instead  of  all  the  first  born 

45.  I  am  the  Lord 

"     4,    4.  TliissAa//ie 

Judg.  16,  30.  upon  all  the  people 

2  Sam.  13,  29.  gat  him  up  upon  his  mule 

1  Kings  4,  27.  unto  king  Solomon's  table 

2  Kings  20, 8.  go  up  into  the  house 

2  Chr.  21,9.  compassed  him  in,  and 

Job  36,  29.  spreadings  of  the  clouds 

Ps.  25,  16.  me :  for  I  am.  desolate 

Cant.  2,  7.  till  she  [some  read  he]  please 

Is.  7,  3.  Ahaz,  thou,  and  Shear-jashub 

"  47,  12.  enchantments 

"  49,  2.  mouth  like  a  sh.irp  sword 

Lam.  2,  10.  daughter  of  Zion 

Mark  9,  24.  help  thou  mine  unbelief 

John  5,  3.  a  great  multitude 

Acts  21, 38.  Art  not  thou  that  Egyptian 

Rom.  15, 16.  the  ofTcring  up  of  the  Gentiles 

1  Pet.  1,  8.  though  now  ye  sec  him  not 

Eev.  2,  18.  feet  are  like  fine  brass 

"    5,   4.  no  man  was  found  worthy 

"    7, 14.  out  of  great  tribulation 

"  20,  10.  where   the    beast   and   the   false 
prophet  are 


1613. 

and  cleave 

day  when  ye  eat  thereof,  .vour 
she  icas  fair 
are 

fury  pass  away 
of  you  in  one  day 
bread  lie  did  eat 
the  iniquities 
instead  of  the  first  born 
I  am  the  Lord 
This  shall  be 
upon  the  people 
gat  him  upon  his  mule 
unto  Solomons  table 
go  into  the  house 
compassed  him,  and 
spreading  of  the  clouds 
me :  I  am  desolate 
till  he  please 
Ahaz,  and  Shear-jashub 
enchantment 
mouth  a  sharp  sword 
daughters  of  Zion 
help  my  unbelief 
a  great  company 
Art  not  thou  the  EgjTJtian 
the  offering  of  the  Gentiles 
though  ye  see  him  not 
feet  are  like  brass 
no  man  was  worthy 
out  of  tribulation 

where    the    beast   and   the   false 
prophets  are 


A  careful  examination  of  the  preceding  li.sts,  and  the  evident 
absence  of  all  plan  in  the  deviations  from  the  edition  of  1611, 


14  REPORT    OF    THE 

except  in  the  first  class,  will  probably  lead  most  minds  to  the  conclu- 
sion, that  the  alterations  of  the  above  third  class  are  also  mostly,  if 
not  all,  merely  errors  of  the  press,  which  have  been  corrected  in 
later  editions. 

RESULTS. 

The  results  of  the  preceding  historical  investigation  may  be 
thus  stated : 

That  the  edition  of  1611,  although  prepared  with  very  great 
care,  was  not  free  from  typographical  errors  ;  and  that,  while  most 
of  these  were  corrected  in  the  editions  of  1613,  others  in  much 
greater  number  were  nevertheless  then  introduced,  which  have 
since  been  removed. 

That  the  edition  of  Dr.  Lloyd  in  1701  was  disfigured  by 
like  errors  of  the  press ;  and  these  were  increased  to  such  an  ex- 
tent, that  in  1724  the  correctors  of  the  press  employed  by  the 
various  patentees  were  required  to  be  approved  by  the  archbishop 
of  Canterbury  and  the  bishop  of  London. 

That  the  revision  of  Dr.  Blaney,  made  by  collating  the  then 
current  editions  of  Oxford  and  Cambridge  with  those  of  1611  and 
1701,  had  for  its  main  object  to  restore  the  text  of  the  English 
Bible  to  its  original  purity ;  and  that  this  was  successfully  accom- 
plished, to  as  great  a  degree  as  can  well  be  expected  in  any  work 
of  like  extent. 

LIABILITY  TO  ERROR. 

It  may  perhaps  be  supposed,  that,  after  such  a  revision,  and 
especially  after  the  corrected  copies  of  1806  and  1813,  it  would  be 
no  difficult  matter  to  keep  up  the  standard  of  correctness  at  the 
same  elevated  point.  Such  an  expectation,  however,  could  never 
be  cherished  by  those,  who  have  had  much  practical  experience  in 
relation  to  the  press.  And  especially,  when  we  take  into  account, 
that  the  printing  of  Bibles  is  carried  on  in  Great  Britain  at  four  dif- 
ferent places,  and  in  this  country  entirely  ad  libitum;  and  that  each 
copy  contains,  on  an  average,  more  than  a  thousand  closely  printed 
pages ;  it  must  be  regarded  as  beyond  the  power  of  all  human 
skill,  even  with  the  aid  of  stereotype  plates,  to  prevent  the  occa- 
sional occurrence  of  minor  errors  and  variations,  arising  sometimes 
from  accident,  and  sometimes  from  the  inadvertence  of  proof  read- 
ers.    Along  with  all  these,  too,  there  is  certainly  the  possibility, 


COMmXTEB    ON    VERSIONS.  l3 

that    some   slight    oversights   may   have   remained    uncorrected 
throughout  all  the  editions,  even  from  the  very  beginning. 

It  may  not  bo  inappropriate  here  to  refer  to  two  or  three  ex- 
amples of  important  errors  which  have  formerly  crept  into  the 
text  of  some  editions,  through  inadvertence. 

There  exists,  for  instance,  the  "Vinegar  Edition,"  so  called, 
printed  at  Oxford  in  1717,  in  two  volumes  folio ;  in  which  the 
word  "vinegar"  is  put  for  "vineyard"  in  Luke  13,  7. 

In  like  manner,  in  several  editions  between  1638  and  1685, 
in  Acts  6,  3,  where  the  appointment  of  seven  deacons  is  spoken 
of,  the  reading  is  changed  from  "whom  we  may  appoint"  to 
"whom  ye  may  appoint."  This  variation  has  sometimes  been 
charged  upon  the  Independents,  as  intentional  on  their  part ;  but 
as  it  first  appeared  in  the  Cambridge  edition  in  1638,  and  is  not 
noted  again  until  the  time  of  the  restoration,  when  it  is  found  in 
the  copies  of  Cambridge,  London,  and  Edinburgh,  this  charge 
would  seem  to  be  without  foundation ;  and  the  error,  probably, 
was  merely  one  of  the  press.* 

In  one  American  edition,  in  Gal.  4,  27,  the  verse  is  thus 
printed:  "For  it  is  written.  Rejoice,  thou  barren  that  bearest 
not;  break  forth  and  cry,  thou  that  travailest  not:  for  the  desolate 
hath  many  more  children  than  she  which  hath  an  hundred ; "  so 
printed  instead  of  "  husband." 

RECENT  COLLATION. 
Having  thus  presented  a  summary  of  the  history  of  the  present 
English  Version,  your  Committee  turn  to  the  detail  of  their  own 

labours. 

The  attention  of  the  Committee  was  fii-st  drawn  to  the  subject 
under  consideration,  at  their  meeting  Oct.  6th,  1847.  At  that  time 
Mr.  Secretary  Brigham  communicated  to  them,  that  the  Superin- 
tendent of  printing  found  many  discrepancies  still  existing  between 
our  different  editions  of  the  English  Bible;  and  also  between 
our  editions  and  those  issued  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society.  Several  specimens  of  such  discrepancies  were  exhibited 
to  the  Committee,  relating  mostly  to  the  use  of  Italic  words, 
Capital  Letters,  and  the  Article  a  or  an.    After  consideration  the 


♦  Lewis'  History  of  the  English  Bible,  p.  310. 


16  REPORT   OF    THE 

Committee  referred  the  matter  to  the  Board  of  Managers  for 
counsel  and  direction. 

At  the  meeting  of  tlie  Board  of  Managers  on  the  next  day, 
Oct.  7th,  1847,  the  matter  was  taken  np  and  considered  ;  and  was 
referred  back  to  the  Committee  on  Versions,  with  directions  to 
have  the  necessary  collation  made,  and  report  the  result  to  the 
Board. 

No  further  action  was  had  in  the  Committee  until  Feb.  1st, 
1848  ;  when  it  was  resolved,  "  that  a  suitable  person  be  employed 
to  collate  the  principal  editions  of  the  English  Bible  published  by 
this  Society  with  the  latest  British  editions,  and  report  from  time 
to  time  to  the  Committee." 

A  week  later,  Feb.  8th,  1848,  it  was  resolved  that  the  Rev. 
James  W,  McLane,  Pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Williamsburgh,  N.  Y.,  be  employed  to  commence  the  collation  of 
the  English  Bible,  as  directed  by  the  Board ;  beginning  with  the 
New  Testament. 

The  work  of  collation  was  immediately  begun  ;  and  the  Colla- 
tor made  his  first  report  to  the  Committee  on  the  2Gth  of  the  same 
month.  After  several  further  meetings,  the  Committee  having 
convened  on  the  25th  of  March,  1848,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson  sub- 
mitted the  following  series  of  resolutions,  which  were  adopted,  as 
expressing  the  general  views  to  which  the  Committee  had  been 
led  by  their  examination  and  experience  hitherto,  and  to  serve  as 
rules  for  their  further  guidance  : 

"  1.  That  the  royal  octavo  edition  of  the  English  Bible,  issued 
by  this  Society,  be  adopted  as  the  basis  for  corrections. 

"  2.  That  the  said  American  copy  be  compared  with  recent 
copies  of  the  four  leading  British  editions,  viz.  those  of  London, 
Oxford,  Cambridge,  and  Edinburgh ;  and  also  with  the  original 
edition  of  1611. 

"  3.  That  the  comparison  include  the  Orthography^  Capital 
Letters,  Words  in  Italic,  and  Punctuation.  (To  these  were 
added  in  practice  the  Contents  of  the  chapters,  and  the  running 
Heads  of  the  columns.) 

"  4.  That  so  far  as  the  four  English  copies  are  uniform,  the 
American  copy  be  conformed  to  them,  unless  otherwise  specially 
ordered  by  the  Committee. 

"5.  That  the  Collator  be  instructed,  in  his  further  labours,  to 
apply  the  principles  and  cases  previously  adopted  and  decided  by 


COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS.  17 

this  Committee  ;  and  that  hereafter  he  lay  before  the  Committee 
only  such  cases  as  have  not  before  been  acted  upon,  or  such  as 
may  seem  to  need  further  consideration. 

"  6.  That  in  respect  to  tlie  indefinite  article,  tlic  form  an  bo 
used  before  all  vowels  and  diphthongs  not  pronounced  as  conso- 
nants, and  also  before  h  silent  or  unaccented  ;  and  that  the  form 
a  be  employed  in  all  other  cases." 

After  further  examination  and  experience,  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Committee  Sept.  22nd,  1848,  the  following  additional  rules  were 
adopted : 

"  7.  That  in  cases  where  the  four  recent  British  copies,  and 
also  the  original  edition  and  our  own  copy,  vary  in  Punctuation, 
the  uniform  usage  of  any  three  of  the  copies  shall  be  followed. 

"  8.  That  when  the  London,  Oxford,  and  Cambridge  editions 
agree  in  the  use  or  omission  of  the  hyphen  in  compound  words, 
the  same  usage  be  adopted. 

"  9.  That  when  the  term  Scripture  or  Scriptures  refers  to  the 
whole  volume  of  inspired  truth,  it  begin  with  a  capital  letter ; 
but  when  the  reference  is  to  some  particular  portion,  it  begin 
with  a  small  letter." 

A  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managers  was  held  on  the  28th  of 
Sept.  1848 ;  at  which  the  Secretary  read  the  minutes  of  the 
Committee  on  Versions,  and  gave  explanations  in  respect  to 
the  preceding  rules.  After  consideration,  the  said  minutes  were 
approved ;  and  the  whole  matter  was  referred  back  to  the  Com- 
mittee vjith  power. 

The  Committee  met  again  Oct.  2d,  1848.  Having  thus  re- 
ceived the  sanction  of  the  Board  of  Managers  upon  their  proceed- 
ings, and  upon  the  rules  already  established ;  and  it  being  found 
difficult  for  the  whole  Committee  to  convene  so  often  ;  it  was  re- 
solved, "that  the  Rev.  Dr.  Robinson  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Vermilye 
bo  a  Sub-Committee  to  inspect  the  further  alterations  suggested 
by  the  Collator,  and  seo  that  they  are  made  according  to  the  rules 
prescribed  ;  and,  if  cases  of  peculiar  importance  arise,  to  convene 
the  entire  Committee." 

The  collation  was  now  fairly  in  progress.  The  Sub-Commit- 
tee met  the  Collator  once  in  each  week,  and  sometimes  oftener ; 
and  were  occasionally  assisted  by  other  members  of  the  Commit- 
tee, and  by  the  Secretaries.     Each  sitting  usually  occupied  sev- 


IS  REPORT   OF    THE 

eral  hours ;  and  was  devoted  to  a  close  examination  of  the  varia- 
tions and  other  cases  presented  by  the  Collator.  In  the  vast 
majority  of  instances,  the  Sub-Committee  were  enabled  to  decide 
at  once,  and  without  any  hesitation.  Wherever  a  doubt  existed, 
or  might  be  supposed  to  exist,  the  case  was  reserved  for  the  ac- 
tion of  the  whole  Committee.  These  cases  were  disposed  of  by 
the  Committee  at  various  meetings  called  for  the  purpose. 

It  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  state  here  the  method,  in  which 
the  collation  of  the  text  was  carried  on.  A  book  was  prepared 
with  columns  for  each  of  the  six  copies  collated ;  and  wherever  a 
variation  was  found,  the  reading  in  each  copy  was  entered  in  its 
own  column.  An  additional  column  cont;ained  notes  or  remarks 
suggested  by  the  particular  case,  or  bearing  upon  a  proper  decis- 
ion. In  this  way  a  single  glance  sufficed  to  ascertain,  whether  a 
case  came  under  the  prescribed  rules,  or  was  to  be  considered  on 
its  own  merits.  In  an  additional  column  was  then  entered  the 
decision  of  the  Sub-Committee  ;  and  in  another,  the  cases  referred 
to  the  whole  Committee,  with  their  decision.  These  entries  form 
a  complete  record  of  the  collation,  and  of  the  judgment  of  the 
Committee  in  every  instance ;  and  as  the  book  (or  rather  books) 
will  be  deposited  in  the  archives  of  the  Society,  it  will  be  possi- 
ble, at  any  future  time,  to  determine,  by  reference  to  them  in  a 
particular  case,  what  was  the  decision  of  the  Committee,  and  in 
general  the  grounds  on  which  it  rested. 

It  was  not  until  after  nineteen  months,  on  the  2Sth  of  April, 
1850,  that  the  Sub-Committee  were  ready  to  report,  that  in  con- 
nection with  the  Collator  they  had  now  gone  through  the  text  of 
the  entire  Bible  ;  and  that  new  plates  were  in  the  process  of  prep- 
aration in  conformity  with  the  corrected  copy.  It  was  thereupon 
resolved,  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  McLane  be  requested  to  read  again 
with  care  the  sheets  of  the  corrected  copy  as  made  ready  for  the 
press ;  and  also  to  collate  the  marginal  readings  and  references, 
with  a  view  to  the  preparation  of  another  still  more  correct  edi- 
tion, which  may  be  made  the  standard  copy  of  the  Society.  The 
same  Sub-Committee  were  charged  with  the  further  supervision  of 
the  work,  to  assist  the  Collator  in  perfecting  the  proposed  edition. 

In  accordance  with  this  resolution  the  plates  then  in  progress 
have  been  finished,  and  editions  from  them  carried  through  the 
press.  The  collation  of  the  marginal  readings  and  references  has 
been  quite  recently  completed ;  and  the  plates  of  a  new  Reference 


COMmTTEE    ON   VERSIONS.  19 

Bible  in  octavo,  of  beautiful  form  and  type,  are  in  tlie  course  of 
preparation.  Those  will  ])e  finished  under  the  care  of  the  Collator 
and  the  Committee,  ^yl^en  that  time  shall  have  arrived,  the 
Committee  will  feel,  that  the  important  work  entrusted  to  their 
charge,  and  in  which  some  of  them  have  spent  so  many  pleasant 
hours,  has  been  fully  and  successfully  accomplished. 

SPECIMENS  OF  VARIATIONS. 

The  Committee  deem  it  important,  in  this  comiection,  to  lay 
before  the  Board  some  specimens  of  the  variations  and  discrepan- 
cies in  respect  to  which  they  have  been  called  to  decide,  and  of 
the  changes  which  they  have  seen  fit  to  adopt  both  in  the  Text 
and  its  Accessories.  The  Board  and  all  other  persons  will  thus 
be  in  a  situation  to  judge  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Committee 
have  fulfilled  their  work ;  and  of  the  degree  of  confidence  which 
may  properly  be  felt  in  the  results. 

I.    IN    THE    TEXT. 

It  will  be  apparent  from  an  inspection  of  the  rules  above 
given,  that  the  great  and  leading  object  of  the  Committee  has 
every  where  been  tmiformity.  It  is  only  where  the  British  copies 
differ,  that  any  question  has  been  raised  ;  except  in  a  few  instances 
to  be  noted  in  the  sequel.  It  has  been  the  wish  and  endeavour 
of  the  Committee,  to  see  the  English  Yersion  restored,  so  far  as 
possible,  to  its  original  purity ;  saving  the  necessary  changes  of 
orthography  and  other  like  variations,  which  would  assuredly 
be  acceptable  to  the  translators  themselves,  were  they  living  at 
the  present  day.  The  Committee  have  had  no  authority  and  no 
desire  to  go  behind  the  translators ;  nor  in  any  respect  to  touch 
the  original  version  of  tlie  text ;  unless  in  cases  of  evident  inad- 
vertence or  inconsistency,  open  and  manifest  to  all. 

1.  Words.  Here,  on  the  very  threshold,  we  light  upon  an  in- 
consistency in  respect  to  the  gender  of  a  pronoun  in  the  edition  of 
1611,  which  all  the  modern  editions  have  only  made  worse.  Thus 
in  RutJi  3,  15,  all  the  present  copies  read  :  "  and  she  went  into  the 
city  ;"  but  the  Hebrew  and  the  translators  have  it :  "  and  he  went 
into  the  city."  Again,  in  Cant.  2,  7,  all  the  present  copies  read : 
"  nor  awake  my  love,  till  he  please ; "  but  the  Hebrew  and  the 
translators:  "till  she  please."  Yet  in  Cant.  3,  5,  and  8,  4,  where 
tlie  Hebrew  is  precisely  the  same,  the  translators  and  all  the  copies 


20  REPORT    OF    THE 

have :  "  till  he  please."  All  these  instances  have  of  course  been 
corrected  according  to  the  Hel)re\v. 

In  Isa.  1,  16,  the  present  copies  read,  "  Wash  you,"  where  the 
translators  put  "Wash  ye."  This  is  according  to  the  Hebrew, 
and  has  been  restored. 

Another  change  of  a  word  occurs  in  Josh.  19,  2 ;  where  the 
recent  copies  read  :  "  and  Sheba ;"  but  the  translators  have  :  "or 
Sheba."  Hero  the  Hebrew  may  in  itself  be  taken  either  way ; 
but  the  number  of  thirteen  cities  specified  in  v.  6,  requires  "  or." 

In  Matt.  12,  41,  which  reads  in  all  the  copies :  "  shall  rise  up 
in  judgment,"  the  Committee  have  not  hesitated  to  insert  the  def- 
inite article  :  "in  the  judgment."  This  is  required  by  the  Grreek  ; 
and  the  same  Grreek  phrase,  in  v.  42,  is  so  rendered  by  the  trans- 
lators, and  is  so  read  in  all  the  copies. 

2.  Orthography.  The  Committee  entertain  a  reverence  for 
the  antique  forms  of  words  and  orthography  in  the  Bible,  where 
they  do  not  conflict  with  a  clear  understanding  of  the  sense.  In- 
deed, it  is  such  forms,  in  a  measure,  which  impart  an  air  of  dig- 
nity and  venerableness  to  our  version.  For  this  reason,  phrases 
like :  "  hoised  up  the  mainsail"  Acts  27,  40 ;  also  words  like 
"graff"  and  "graffed"  Rom.  11,  17.  19.  23.  24;  have  not  been 
altered.  But  when  these  forms  have  become  obsolete  and  unin- 
telligible ;  or  have  already  been  changed  in  some  places  and  not 
in  others ;  or  where  in  themselves  they  are  of  no  importance ; 
there  seems  to  be  no  valid  reason  for  longer  retaining  them.  By 
far  the  greater  portion  of  the  readers  of  the  English  Bible  are  un- 
learned persons  and  children  ;  and  it  is  essential  to  remove  every 
thing  in  the  mere  form,  which  may  become  to  any  a  stumbling- 
block  in  the  way  of  the  right  and  prompt  understanding  of  God's 
holy  word.  The  following  examples  still  occur  in  the  English 
editions  ;  but  have  mostly  already  been  changed  in  the  Edinburgh 
and  American  copies.  Many  of  them  are  variations  from  tlie 
edition  of  1611. 


Emjlish  Copies. 

Cor7-ected- 

Gen.  8, 1. 

as  swaged 

assuaged 

"  11,3. 

morter 

mortar 

•(        U         11 

througlily 

thoroughly  (Tr.  Cam.) 

"   15,11. 

carcases 

carcasses 

"  18,19. 

houshold  (Lond.) 

liousehold  (Tr.  Ox.) 

"  30,33. 

ringstraked 

ringstreaked 

"    "  37. 

strakes 

streaks 

"  31,10. 

grisled 

grizzled 

COMMITTEE    ON   VERSIONS. 


21 


Enalish  Copies. 

Corredcd. 

Gen.  39,   0. 

ought 

auglit 

"     49, 27. 

ravin 

raven 

Ex.  6,21. 

Zithri  (prob.  error  of  press) 

Zicliri  (Tr.  Edin.) 

"  7.ia 

lothe 

loathe  (Tr.) 

"  12,  22. 

bason 

basin 

"  27,  4. 

brascn 

brazen 

"  31, 10. 

cloths 

clothes  (Tr.) 

"  32, 20. 

strowcd 

strewed 

"  33, 22. 

clift 

cleft 

Lev.  14,  42. 

plaister 

plaster 

"    2-5,9. 

jubile 

jubilee 

Num.  10,  25. 

rereward 

rearward 

"     13, 33. 

gi-iishoppcrs  (Tr.  Lond.) 

grasshoppers 

"     20, 14. 

travel 

travail  (Tr.) 

Deut.l4, 15. 

cuckow                     ^ 

cuckoo 

"    15,17. 

aul 

awl 

"    20,19. 

ax 

.nxe  (Tr.) 

"    21,6. 

milstonc  (Tr.  Loml.) 

millstone  (Ox.) 

Judg.  5,  22. 

pransings 

prancings 

"    13,5. 

rasor  (Tr.  Lond.  Cam.) 

razor  (Ox.) 

Ruth  1,  la 

stedfastly 

steadfastly 

2  Sam.  15,  12. 

counsellor  (Tr.  Lond.  Cam.) 

counsellor  (Ox.) 

1  Kings  6, 15. 

deling  (Tr.  sieling) 

ceiling 

"       8, 37. 

caterpiller 

caterpillar 

2  Chr.  2, 16. 

flotes 

floats 

"     7, 6. 

musick 

music 

Neh.  9,  1. 

sackclothes 

sackcloth  (as  in  Joel  1,  13.) 

Is.  41,  7. 

sodcring 

soldering 

"  59, 17. 

cloke 

cloak  (Tr.) 

Jcr.  2,  22. 

sope 

soap 

Ez.  40,  31. 

utter  court 

outer  court 

Zech.  11,  13. 

prised 

prized 

Matt.  20,  1 1. 

good  man  (Tr.  Am.) 

goodman  (Lond.  Ox.  Cam.) 

"     27, 4& 

spunge 

sponge 

Acts  7,  2a 

diddest 

didst 

"   14,6. 

ware 

aware 

Eph.  5,  8. 

sometimes 

sometime  (i.  e.  once,  formerly.) 

1  Tim.  2,  9. 

broidercd  (Tr.  broided) 

braided 

Rev.  14,  20. 

horse  bridles 

horses'  bridles  (so  the  Greek.) 

A  variation  likewise  occurs  in  the  mode  of  writing  the  Imper- 
feet  and  Participle  of  many  verbs ;  all  of  which  have  been  cor- 
rected to  the  present  standard.     The  following  are  examples  : 

Gen.  7,  17.  "  was  lift  up"  (so  the  translators) ;  also  Ez.  1,  19 ;  but  in  v.  20,  "  lifted  up.'» 
The  recent  copies  hixvc  mostly  "  lifted,"  but  not  always. 
"    8, 11.    "pluckt";  but  "plucked"  Dcut.  28,  63- 
"  la  7.      "  fetcht ;"  but  in  v.  4,  "  fetched." 

"  21,  7.      "  have  bom,"  in  recent  copies ;  the  translators  correctly :  "  have  borne." 
Deut.  2,  37.  "  forbad,"  in  recent  copies ;  the  translators  correctly :  "  forbade." 
Ps.  68,  13.    "  lien ;"  so  the  translators  usually.    This  has  been  changed  in  the  modem 
copies,  in  most  cases,  to  "lain,'  as  Num.  5,  19,  20.  Job  3,  13;  but  not 
throughout. 


22  REPORT   OF    THE 

Ezfii  9,  3-  "  astonied ;"  and  so  in  all  the  copies,  Job  18,  20,  Ez.  4, 17.  Dan.  3,  24.  etc. 
In  some  passages  this  has  been  already  changed  to  "astonished,"  as 
Job  17,  8. 

In  expressing  the  Plurals  of  such  Hebrew  words  as  are  not 
rendered  in  the  text,  the  translators  adopted  the  plural  form  of  the 
Hebrew  in  -im,  but  with  the  superfluous  addition  of  an  5;  as 
cherubims,  serapliims,  Nethinims,  Anakims,  etc.  This  is  strictly 
wrong,  and  is  not  in  accordance  with  present  usage.  The  s  has 
therefore  every  where  been  dropped  in  such  words ;  as  Gen.  3,  24. 
Is.  6,  2.  6.  etc. 

In  respect  to  the  Particles  of  Exclamation,  O  and  Oh,  it 
appears  on  examination  that  the  former  (0)  is  every  where  used 
before  a  Vocative  case ;  while  before  an  Optative  we  find  both : 
"  0  that,"  Deut.  32,  29.  Ps.  55,  6 ;  and  "  Oh  that,"  Job.  6,  2. 
Jer.  9,  1.  In  order  to  maintain  the  proper  distinction,  the  form 
Oh  has  every  where  been  retained  with  the  Optative ;  leaving  O 
as  the  sign  of  the  Vocative. 

The  forms  of  the  Indefinite  Article,  a  or  an,  have  been  ad- 
justed throughout  according  to  the  sixth  rule  above  given.  In 
order  to  show  the  necessity  of  the  rule,  the  following  examples  of 
inconsistency  in  all  the  copies,  from  first  to  last,  are  here  selected: 


Gen.  25,  25. 

an  hairy 

Matt.  5, 14. 

an  hill 

"    27,  11. 

a  hairy 

Josh.  24,  33. 

a  hill 

Judg.  4,  21. 

an  hammer 

Ex.  28,  32. 

an  hole 

Jer.  23,  29. 

a  hammer 

2  Kings  12,  9. 

a  hole 

Gen.  38,  15. 

an  harlot 

Ex.  19,  6. 

an  holy 

Joel  3,  3. 

a  harlot  (Ox-  an) 

Is.  30,  29. 

a  holy 

1  Sam.  16,  16. 

an  harp 

Matt.  10,  12. 

an  house 

"     10, 5. 

a  harp 

Mark  3,  25. 

a  house 

Is.  25,  2. 

an  heap 

Ruth  1,  12. 

an  husband 

"  17, 11. 

a  heap  (Ox.  an) 

il             u 

a  husband  (Ox.  an) 

"  11, 16. 

an  hi.i:fhway 

etc.  etc.  etc. 

"  19,  23. 

a  highway 

2.  Proper  Names.  There  exists  in  the  Old  Testament  a  very 
considerable  diversity  in  the  mode  of  writing  Hebrew  proper 
names  in  English.  Thus  the  names  of  the  first  seven  patriarchs 
of  the  world,  as  they  appear  in  Gen.  ch.  4,  and  as  they  are  now 
usually  written,  are :  Adam,  Seth,  Enos,  Cainan,  Mahalaleel, 
Jared,  Enoch.  But  in  1  Chr.  1,  1  sq.  the  same  are  recorded  as : 
Adam,  Shcth,  Enosh,  Kenan,  Mahalaleel,  Jered,  Henoch ;  the 
Hebrew  forms  being  in  both  places  precisely  the  same.  This  is 
but  a  single  specimen ;  and  shews  at  least  an  inadvertence  on  the 


COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS.  23 

part  of  the  translators.  In  sonic  instances,  also,  there  is  a  slij^ht 
dilFerence  even  in  the  Hebrew  forms  themselves  in  ditlcrent  books. 
In  cases  like  the  preceding,  involving  as  they  do  a  difference  of 
pronunciation,  the  Committee  have  not  felt  themselves  authorized 
to  introduce  any  change ;  regarding  the  great  principle  of  uniform- 
ity in  the  copies  as  of  higher  importance. 

In  the  IVew  Testament  the  case  is  somewhat  different.  Here 
it  is  to  be  regretted,  that,  in  respect  to  persons  already  knoiun  in 
the  Old  Testament,  the  translators  did  not  retain  their  names  in 
the  form  in  which  they  had  thus  become  familiar.  Instead  of  this, 
they  have  often  introduced  the  personages  of  ancient  Jewish  his- 
tory under  names  modified,  and  sometimes  disguised,  by  trans- 
mission through  the  Greek  tongue.  Thus  in  Acts  7,  45,  and  Heb. 
4,  8,  we  find  the  name  Jesus,  which  the  common  reader  will  nat- 
urally refer. only  to  the  Saviour  ;  while  in  reality  it  is  simply 
the  Greek  form  for 'Joshua,  and  should  properly  have  been  so 
written.  In  the  same  way  the  name  Core,  in  Jude  11,  is  unin- 
telligible to  most  readers ;  for  comparatively  few  would  ever  sus- 
pect its  identity  with  the  Korah  of  tlie  Old  Testament.  So  too, 
the  translators  have  sometimes  taken  the  form  of  the  Greek  gen- 
itive Juda,  Jona,  to  represent  the  Hebrew  names  Judah,  Jonah. 

The  principle  adopted  in  such  cases  has  been  the  following: 
When  such  names  occur  singly  in  the  narrative,  and  there  would 
arise  no  marked  difference  in  the  pronunciation,  the  form  in  the 
Old  Testament  has  been  restored.  The  name  Jesus,  as  above 
cited,  is  explained  in  the  margin  by  the  translators  themselves. 
The  following  are  examples  : 


Former  Reading.       Corrected. 

Former  Reading. 

Cmrected- 

Matt.  2,  0.      Juda 

Judah 

Acts  7,  30. 

Sin  a 

Sinai 

"     10,  15.    Gomorrha 

Gomorrah 

Heb.  .5,  6. 

Melchiscdi 

30     Melchizet 

"     21.  .5.      Sion 

Zion 

"    11,  11. 

Sara 

Sarah 

"     24,37.    Noe 

Koah 

32. 

Gedcon 

Gideon 

Mark  6,  3.       .Tiula 

Judah 

"          " 

Jephthae 

Jeplithab 

John  1,  42.      Jona 

Jonas 

Jude  11. 

Core 

Korah 

Acts  7,  11.       Clianaan 

Canaan 

Kcv.  2, 14. 

Balac 

Balalc 

3.  Compound  "Words.  The  eighth  rule  prescribes,  that  the 
usage  of  the  English  copies  be  followed  in  respect  to  the  in.sertion 
or  omission  of  the  hyphen  in  compound  words.  It  was  found, 
that  the  Edinburgh  and  American  copies  employ  the  hypiien  in 
very  many  instances,  where  by  the  operation  of  the  rule  it  has 
been  dropped.    In  such  cases,  generally,  the  words  have  afterwards 


24  REPORT    OF    THE 

been  written  as  one  word,  or  as  two  words,  according  as  the  ac- 
cent in  pronunciation  is  placed  upon  the  first  word,  or  otherwise. 
Tims  bedchamber,  handmaid ;  but  meat  offering,  burnt  sacrifice. 
This  accords  for  the  most  part  with  the  English  copies. 

4.  Capital  Letters.  The  ninth  rule  provides  for  the  manner 
of  writing  the  term  Scripture  or  Scriptures,  with  or  without  a 
capital  letter.  A  similar  rule  has  been  followed  in  practice  in 
respect  to  the  word  "  Spirit ;"  which  every  where  is  made  to  be- 
gin with  a  capital  when  it  refers  to  the  Spirit  of  God  as  a  divine 
agent ;  but  not  when  it  denotes  other  spiritual  beings  or  the  spirit 
of  man.  The  following  is  a  specimen  of  changes  which  have  been 
made: 


English  Copies.                                       Corrected- 

Gen.  6,  3. 

My  spirit                                              My  Spirit 

So  too  Gen.  41,  38.   Num.  24,  2. 

Ps.  21,  7. 

most  High                                             Most  High 

Is.  63,  10. 

holy  Spirit                                            Holy  Spirit 

Rev.  4,  5. 

seven  Spirits  of  God                           seven  spirits  of  God 

5.  Words  in  Italics.  These  were  inserted  by  the  translators 
to  fill  out  the  English  idiom,  in  cases  where  the  Hebrew  and  Greek 
usage  omits  the  copula  or  other  connecting  or  dependent  words. 
These  insertions  were  carefully  revised  and  compared  with  the 
original  by  Dr.  Blaney ;  but  notwithstanding  his  diligence,  quite 
a  number  of  errors  have  been  detected,  some  of  which  belong  to 
the  translators.     The  following  are  examples  : 

Ex.  8,  21.  22.  21.  29.  31.  Here  the  recent  copies  all  read :  '"swarms  of  files'^;  while 
in  Ps.  78,  4.5,  and  105,  31,  the  same  Hebrew  word  is  rendered:  "divers  sorts  of 
flies",  without  Italics.    In  all  these  passages  the  edition  of  1611  has  no  Italics. 

Judg-  9,  53.  The  edition  of  1611  and  all  others  here  read:  "and  all  to  brake  his  skull." 
This  has  been  often  misunderstood,  and  has  been  sometimes  printed  :  "and  all  to 
break-"  But  "all  to"  is  an  antique  form  signifying  "altogether,"  and  was  last 
so  used  by  Milton.  It  here  gives  an  emphasis  to  "  brake,"  which  is  not  in  the 
Hebrew.  The  Committee  liave  therefore  put  all-to  in  Italics,  with  a  hyphen;  and 
have  inserted  a  note  of  explanation  in  the  margin.* 

Ps.  89,  34.  "the  thing  that  is  gone  out  of  my  lips."  So  without  Italics  in  the  edition 
of  1611  and  all  British  copies.    The  American  has,  correctly,  that  is,  in  Italics. 

Luke  1,  35.  "which  shall  be  born  of  thee."  So  in  all  the  copies  first  and  last;  but  the 
words  of  thee  should  be  in  Italic ;  there  being  nothing  corresponding  in  the  Greek. 

John  10,  28,  29,  "any  man  ....  no  man;"  so  in  the  edition  of  1611.  The  Oxford 
copy  rightly  reads :  "  any  man  ....  no  man ;"  the  Edinburgh  and  American  have : 
"  any  . .  .  none."    Corrected  like  the  Oxford :  "  any  man  ....  no  man-''^ 

1  John  2,  23,  sec  in  no.  8  below. 

*  See  Biblioth.  Sacra,  Aug.  1819,  p-  607. 


COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS.  25 

6.  Punctuation.  It  was  found  that  the  throe  English  copies 
have  a  general  uniformity  in  respect  to  punctuation,  especially  in 
the  frequent  use  of  the  colon ;  while  the  Edinburgh  and  Ameri- 
can often  prefer  the  semicolon,  and  are  in  general  more  conformed 
to  the  edition  of  1611.  The  seventh  rule  prescribes,  that  "  the 
uniform  usage  of  any  three  of  the  copies  shall  be  followed."  In 
the  great  majority  of  instances,  tlie  operation  of  the  rule  has  pro- 
duced conformity  with  the  English  copies.  In  cases  where  the 
rule  was  not  applicable,  the  Committee  have  endeavoured  to 
decide  each  according  to  its  own  merits. 

The  following  five  changes  made  in  the  punctuation,  are  all, 
it  is  believed,  which  affect  the  sense  : 

Rom.  4, 1.  "that  Abraham,  our  father,  as  pcrtaininff  to  the  flesh  hath  found."  Here, 
according  to  the  order  of  the  Greek,  it  sliould  read:  "hath  found  as  pertaining  to 
the  flesh."  The  true  pointing,  therefore,  is  a  comma  after  Abraham,  and  another 
after  father.    This  is  found  in  no  edition  hitherto. 

1  Cor.  16,  Qfl.    "let  him  be  Anathema.     Maran  atha."    There  should  be  a  period  after 

Anathema  which  no  edition  inserts.  Tlie  two  words  "Maran  atha"  arc  simply  an 
Aramaean  formula  signifying  "The  Lord  cometh  ;"  compare  Phil.  4,  5. 

2  Cor.  10,  8-11.    All  the  copies  now  have  a  colon  after  v.  8,  and  a  period  after  v.  9,  con 

necting  the  two  verses  in  sense-  The  true  pointing,  however,  is  a  period  after  v.  8, 
and  then  a  colon  after  v.  9  and  also  v-  10 ;  thus  connecting  v.  9  as  protasis  with  v- 
11  as  apodosis.  So  Chrysostom,  and  so  the  Syriac  and  Latin  versions;  and  this  is 
required  by  the  logical  sequence. 

Heb.  13,  7.  Here  should  be  a  period  at  the  end  of  the  verse  after  "conversation."  So 
the  translators,  the  Oxford,  and  other  copies-  The  Edinburgh  and  American  have 
sometimes  a  colon,  and  sometimes  a  comma. 

Rev- 1.3,  8.  Here  a  comma  is  inserted  after  "slain;"  since  the  qualification  "from  the 
foundation  of  the  world"  refers  not  to  "  slain,"  but  to  "  written ;"  as  is  showTi  by 
the  parallel  verse.  Rev.  17,  8.  The  translators  wrongly  insert  a  comma  after 
"  Lamb ;"  others  put  no  stop  at  all. 

7.  Parentheses.  Our  collation  has  shown,  that  very  many 
parentheses  have  been  introduced  into  the  text  since  the  edition 
of  1611.  Some  of  these  are  fit  and  proper;  but  in  general  they 
only  mar  the  beauty  of  the  page,  without  adding  any  thing  to 
perspicuity.  In  some  instances,  too,  they  have  the  force  of  com- 
mentary. For  these  rca.sons,  those  not  inserted  by  the  translators 
have  been  in  great  part  omitted ;  as  in  Rom.  5,  13-17.  11,  8. 
2  Cor.  12,  2.    Gal,  1.  1.   Rev.  2,  9.  etc. 

8.  Brackets.  These  are  found  but  once,  1  John  2,  23,  enclosing 
the  last  clause  of  the  verse,  which  the  translators  put  in  Italic. 
This  was  done,  because  that  clause  was  not  then  contained  in  the 
Received  Text  of  the  Greek  New  Testament ;  although  the  sense 


96  REPORT    OF    THE 

requires  it,  and  it  was  read  in  the  best  manuscripts  and  in  the 
Versions.  Tlie  clause  is  now  inserted  in  all  critical  editions  of 
the  Greek  Testament ;  and  as  there  is  no  question  of  its  genuine- 
ness, both  the  brackets  and  the  Italics  have  been  dropped. 

n.    IN    THE    ACCESSORIES    OF    THE    TEXT. 

We  here  tread  on  different  ground.  The  edition  of  1611 
contained  indeed  valuable  accessories  of  the  text ;  and  these  have 
been  continued,  and  are  greatly  increased,  in  many  of  the  editions 
at  the  present  day.  But  it  is  the  text,  and  strictly  nothing  but 
the  text,  that  constitutes  the  Bible.  Of  the  many  editions  pub- 
lished by  this  Society,  and  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  by  far  the  greater  number,  and  the  great  multitude  of 
copies,  comprise  the  text  alone,  with  the  briefest  possible  acces- 
sories. 

1.  Contents  op  the  Chapters.  These,  as  found  in  the  larger 
copies  of  the  Bible,  have  mostly  come  down  to  us  from  the  trans- 
lators. Some  of  these  summaries  early  gave  rise  to  remark ; 
especially  that  originally  prefixed  to  Ps.  149 :  "  The  prophet 
exhorteth  to  praise  God  for  his  love  to  the  church,  5  and  for  that 
power  which  he  hath  given  to  the  church  to  rule  the  consciences 
of  men."  In  the  later  copies,  the  last  clause:  "to  rule  the  con- 
sciences of  men,"  is  omitted.*  Many  minor  changes  were  also 
made  in  the  edition  of  Dr.  Blaney. — In  the  editions  without  refer- 
ences, for  common  readers  or  for  ordinary  distribution,  and  par- 
ticularly in  the  Edinburgh  and  American  editions,  these  summaries 
have  often  been  greatly  abbreviated,  and  sometimes  wholly  omitted. 

Such  a  summary,  in  full,  ought  to  comprise  a  reference  to  the 
main  incidents  or  points  in  each  chapter ;  expressed  in  the 
briefest  form  consistent  with  perspicuity ;  and,  so  far  as  possible, 
in  words  contained  in  the  text.  There  should  be  no  ambiguity 
and  no  prolixity ;  and,  above  all,  there  should  be  no  comment. 
In  all  these  particulars,  the  contents  of  chapters  in  the  larger 
Bibles  are  very  frequently  deficient ;  and  the  Committee  have 
endeavoured  to  apply  the  above  principles,  in  making  such  alter- 
ations as  seemed  in  each  case  to  be  required.  Their  attention  has 
been  mainly  directed  to  the  change  of  quaint,  obsolete,  ambiguous, 
or  inappropriate  words  and  expressions ;   to  a  greater  condensa- 

*  Lewis'  History  of  the  English  Bible,  p.  330. 


COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS.  «T 

tion  and  conformity  with  the  language  of  the  text ;  and  to  the 
removal  of  comment. 

As  specimens  of  the  changes  made  under  the  first  of  theso 
heads,  the  following  may  suffice  : 

Gen.  20.    lie  is  healed  by  Abrabain's  prayer. 

Corrected:  At  the  intercession  of  Abraliara  he  is  healed. 
Gen.  22.    Isaae  is  exchanged  with  a  ram. 

Corr.  A  ram  is  sacrificed  instead  of  Isaac. 
Gen.  50.    He  dictb,  and  is  chested. 

Corr.  lie  dietb,  and  is  embalmed. 
Lev.  18.    Unlawful  lusts. 

Con:   Abominable  lusts. 
^  Num.  3.    The  firstborn  are  freed  by  the  Lcvites.  >^ 

M.     (^  Con:  The  Levites  are  taken  instead  of  the  firstborn.) 

Xum.  12.    shut  out  of  the  host. 

Corr.   shut  out  from  the  camp. 
Num.  14.    Moses  pcrsuadeth  God,  ete. 

Corr.  Moses  intercedctb  with  God,  etc. 
Deut,  20.    Trees  of  man's  meat. 

Corr.  Fruit  trees. 
1  Sam.  16.    Samuel  sent  by  God,  under  pretence  of  a  sacrifice,  comcth  to 
Beth-lehem. 

Corr.   Samuel  sent  to  Beth-lehem  to  anoint  one  of  the  sons  of  Jesse. 

Esth.  5.  he  buildeth  for  him  a  pair  of  gallows. 

Corr.  he  buildeth  a  gallows  for  him 
Is.  45.  He  convinccth  the  idols  of  vanity. 

Corr.  The  vanitj'  of  idols. 
Ez.  18.    God  reprovcth  the  unjust  parable  of  sour  grapes. 

Corr.  God  reproveth  the  people  for  their  unjust  parable  of  the  sour  grapes. 
Zech.  5.    By  a  woman  pressed  in  an  ephah,  the  final  damnation  of  Babylon. 

Corr.   The  vision  of  the  ephah. 
Matt.  1.    The  angel  satisficth  the  misdeeming  thoughts  of  Joseph. 

Corr.   The  angel  removcth  the  doubts  of  Joseph. 
Matt.  22.    and  poseth  the  Pharisees  about  the  Messias. 

Corr.   Christ  the  Son  of  David. 

In  the  matter  of  condensation  and  greater  conformity  with  the 
language  of  the  text,  the  changes  have  also  not  been  infrequent. 
Most  readers  of  the  Bible  are  perhaps  not  aware,  that  the  words 
Christ  and  the  church  are  neither  of  them  found  in  our  version 
of  the  text  of  the  Old  Testament ;  the  corresponding  terms  being 
there  Messiah  and  Zion ;  see  Dan,  9,  25.  26.  Ps.  149,  2.  Is.  61, 
3.  66,  8.  Yet  in  the  contents  of  the  chapters  the  former  words  are 
often  employed ;  thus  departing  from  the  language  of  the  text, 
and  in  fact  introducing  comment.  An  example  is  the  summary 
prefixed  to  Ps.  149,  quoted  above  ;  which,  as  amended,  now  reads : 


2S  REPORT    OF    THE 

"  The  psalmist  exhorteth  to  praise  God  for  his  love  to  Zion,  5  and 
for  that  power  which  he  hath  given  to  tlie  saints."  Other  exam- 
ples of  the  like  kind  are  the  following  : 

Ex.  33.    The  people  murmur  thereat. 

Corr.    The  people  mourn.    (As  in  t.  4.) 
Is.  42.    The  office  of  Christ  graced  with  meekness  and  constancy. 

Corr.    The  servant  of  Jehovah.   2  His  character. 
Also  Ps.  80.     Ecc.  1.     Matt.  1.    1  Cor.  7.    1  Tim.  2.     Ilcb.  1.  5.  6.     So  generally  the 
summaries  throughout  the  Gospels  and  the  Book  of  Acts. 

One  other  example  is  too  striking  not  to  be  quoted  in  full : 

Acts  8.  By  occasion  of  the  persecution  in  Jerusalem,  the  church  being  planted  in 
Samaria,  5  by  Philip  the  deacon,  who  preached,  did  miracles,  and  baptized 
many,  among  the  rest  Simon  the  sorcerer,  a  great  seducer  of  the  people :  14 
Peter  and  John  come  to  confirm  and  enlarge  the  church:  where,  by  prayer 
and  imposition  of  hands  giving  the  Holy  Ghost,  18  when  Simon  Avould  have 
bought  the  like  power  of  them,  20  Peter  sharply  reproving  his  hypocrisy,  and 
covetousness,  and  exhorting  him  to  repentance,  together  with  John  preaching 
the  word  of  the  Lord,  return  to  Jerusalem.  2G  But  the  angel  sendeth  Philip 
to  teach,  and  baptize  the  Ethiopian  eunuch. 
Corr.  The  disciples  are  scattered  abroad  and  preach  the  word.  5  Philip  preachcth 
at  Samaria.  9  Simon  the  sorcerer  is  baptized.  14  Peter  and  John  are  sent  to 
Samaria,  in  answer  to  whose  prayer  and  with  the  laying  on  of  their  hands  the 
Holy  Ghost  is  given.  18  Simon  offereth  them  money  for  the  like  power.  20 
Peter  rebuketh  him.  26  Philip  is  sent  to  teach  and  baptize  the  Ethiopian 
eunuch. 

In  respect  to  comment,  some  instances  are  already  given  in 
the  preceding  paragraphs.  It  is  most  frequent  in  the  prophetical 
books ;  and  in  some  of  them  it  occurs  in  the  contents  of  almost 
every  chapter.     The  following  are  also  examples : 

Ps.  49.    An  earnest  persuasion  to  build  the  faith  of  resurrection,  not  on  worldly  power, 
but  on  God. 
Corr.    The  psalmist  calleth  upon  all  men  to  hear.    6  He  sheweth  the  vanity  of 
trusting  in  wealth. 

Is.  40.  The  promulgation  of  the  gospel.  3  The  preaching  of  John  Baptist.  9  The 
preaching  of  the  apostles.  12  The  prophet  by  the  omnipotency  of  God,  18 
and  his  incomparableness,  20  comfortcth  the  people. 
Corr.  God's  command  to  comfort  his  people.  3  An  exhortation  to  prepare  the  way 
of  the  Lord,  9  and  to  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  his  coming.  12  The  power 
and  wisdom  of  God.  18  The  folly  of  likening  him  to  any  thing.  2G  His  per- 
fections a  sure  ground  of  trust  in  him. 

Is.  49.  Christ,  being  sent  to  the  Jews,  complaineth  of  them.  5  He  is  sent  to  the  Gen- 
tiles with  gracious  promises.  13  God's  love  is  perpetual  to  his  church.  18  The 
ample  restoration  of  the  church.  24  The  powerful  deliverance  out  of  captivity. 
Corr.  The  Messiah  and  the  object  of  his  advent.  7  God  promiseth  him  protection 
and  success.  13  God's  unchanging  love  to  Zion.  18  Her  glorious  enlargement 
foretold.   23  The  enemies  of  Zion  shall  be  destroj'ed. 

See,  too.  Is.  42,  43,  44,  50,  51,  52,  54,  60,  G2,  63,  66,  etc.,  etc. 

A  special  example  of  commentary  is  found  in  the  contents  of 


COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS.  29 

sdl  the  chapters  in  the  Song  of  Solomon ;  which  every  where 
present,  as  the  subject  of  the  book,  the  mutual  love  of  Christ  and 
the  church.  The  Committee  fully  believe,  that  this  poem  is 
intended  to  symbolize  the  mystical  union  between  God  or  Christ 
and  the  souls  of  believers  on  earth,  either  individually  or  collec- 
tively ;  but  nothing  of  this  is  expressed  in  the  literal  language  of 
the  text.  The  two  persons  introduced  as  speaking  are  every 
where  the  spouse  or  bride  (cli.  4,  8-12.  5,  1)  and  her  beloved. 
In  accordance  with  this  view,  all  the  summaries  of  this  book  have 
been  recast. 

2.  Running  Heads  of  the  Columns.  These  have  always  been 
varied,  and  are  still  varied,  in  almost  every  edition ;  inasmuch  as 
scarcely  any  two  different  editions  have  the  pages  and  columns 
precisely  alike.  In  the  editions  now  in  preparation  by  the  Com- 
mittee, these  heads  have  been  arranged  by  the  Collator,  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Sub-Committee,  with  special  reference  to  brev- 
ity, appropriateness,  and  conformity  with  the  text. 

3.  Marginal  Readings.  The  king's  sixth  rule  made  it  imper- 
ative upon  the  translators,  that  "  no  marginal  notes  at  all  should 
be  affixed,  but  only  for  the  explanation  of  the  Hebrew  or  Greek 
words,  which  cannot,  ...  so  briefly  and  fitly,  be  expressed  in  the 
text."  The  comparatively  few  readings  which  the  translators  in- 
troduced, were  of  two  kinds. 

The  one  kind  is  marked  by  a  dagger  (t),  and  gives  the  signifi- 
cation of  the  Hebrew  or  Greek  proper  names,  where  there  is  a 
corresponding  allusion  in  the  text ;  and  also  the  meaning  of  other 
words  in  the  original,  where  the  English  idiom  cannot  express 
it  literally.  These  are  introduced  by  "  Heb."  or  "  Gr."  Exam- 
ples from  the  edition  of  1611  may  be  seen  in  the  margin  of  Gen. 
1,  4.  5.  6. 14.  16.  etc.  etc.  Of  this  kind  the  Committee  have  added 
but  two  examples ;  one  in  Acts  12,  4,  where  opposite  the  word 
"Easter"  they  have  inserted:  "  Gr.  the  Passover;''''  and  the 
other  in  Josh.  6,  4,  opposite  the  phrase  :  "of  rams'  horns,"  where 
they  have  put:   "Heb.  of  jubilee  ^ 

The  other  kind  is  denoted  by  parallel  lines  (II),  and  presents  a 
different  or  parallel  rendering  of  the  original  word  or  phrase,  intro- 
duced by  "Or."  These  readings  are  not  unfrequently  better  than 
those  adopted  in  the  text.  Examples  from  the  original  edition  are 
found  in  Gen.  2,  6.  14.  3,  7.  etc.    Sometimes  also  the  note,  to  which 


80  REPORT    OF    THE 

this  mark  refers,  is  merely  explanatory  of  a  word  or  phrase  in 
the  English  text,  preceded  by  "  That  is."  So  the  translators,  op- 
posite to  the  name  "  Jesus"  in  Hcb,  4,  8,  have  inserted  tliis  note : 
"  That  is,  Joshua.''^  The  Committee  have  added  the  same  note  in 
the  margin  of  Acts  7,  45 ;  as  also  one  explanatory  of  "  a//-^o,"  Judg. 
9,53;  one  explanatory  of  "  Selah,"  Ps.  3,  2;  and  another  upon 
the  name  "  Azzah,"  Deut.  2,  23.  Sometimes,  also,  the  same  mark 
is  used,  where  a  different  reading  or  form  of  a  word  is  referred  to. 

The  number  of  marginal  readings,  particularly  of  the  former 
kind,  has  by  degrees  been  greatly  enlarged,  and  especially  by  Dr. 
Blaney.  These,  so  far  as  they  are  not  inappropriate,  the  Commit- 
tee have  permitted  to  remain ;  their  object  here,  too,  being  mainly 
uniformity  rather  than  revision.  In  printing  our  editions,  the 
readings  are  so  arranged,  as  always  to  stand  opposite  the  verse 
to  which  they  belong. 

Another  species  of  note  has  been  added  in  the  modern  copies 
in  a  few  instances,  especially  in  the  book  of  Judges ;  containing 
merely  conjectural  and  unwarranted  commentary.  Such  notes 
are  found  Judg.  3,  31.  11,29.  12,8.  11,13.  13,2.  15,20; 
also  opposite  the  title  of  the  book  of  Job.  These  have  been  every 
where  omitted. 

4.  Marginal  References.  Here  the  translators  were  limited, 
by  the  king's  seventh  rule,  to  "  such  quotations  of  places,  as  shall 
serve  for  the  fit  references  of  one  Scripture  to  another."  The 
edition  of  1611  exhibits  comparatively  few.  They  were  greatly 
increased  first  by  Canne,  whose  selection  was  several  times  re- 
printed in  England  and  Scotland  ;  and  last  of  all,  and  very  exten- 
sively, as  we  have  seen,  by  Dr.  Blaney.  He  seems  not  always  to 
have  confined  himself  to  Canne's  rule,  to  insert  only  "  so  far  as 
the  margin  could  contain ;"  for  in  some  instances  the  bottom  of 
the  column  is  also  occupied  with  references.  Here,  likewise,  the 
object  of  the  Committee  has  been,  not  revision,  but  uniformity ; 
and  only  in  a  few  instances  have  they  diminished  the  number  on 
an  over-full  page,  by  omitting  some  of  those,  which,  on  actual  ex- 
amination, proved  to  be  of  little  or  no  importance.  Here,  too,  in 
printing,  the  reference  letters  with  the  texts  under  each  are  sep- 
arated by  a  printer's  lead ;  in  order  that  the  eye  may  the  more 
readily  catch  the  reference. 

•5.  Chronology.    In  respect  to  this  branch,  the  Committee  have 


COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS.  31 

only  taken  care  to  have  tlio  soverfil  dates  adjusted  over  against 
the  paragraphs  or  verses  to  which  they  respectively  belong.  This 
was  the  more  necessary ;  as  in  not  a'  few  instances  they  had  in 
the  course  of  time  become  displaced. 


CONCLUSION. 

Such  is  the  account  which  the  Committee  have  to  render  to 
the  Board  of  Managers,  of  their  stewardship  in  this  work  ;  although 
this  account,  and  the  few  specimens  above  presented,  can  of  course 
atlbrd  no  adequate  idea  of  the  time,  the  attention,  and  the  labour 
bestowed  on  the  work  by  the  Sub-Committee  and  the  Collator 
during  the  period  of  three  years.  And  now,  invoking  the  contin- 
ued blessing  of  the  ]\[ost  High,  and  with  a  deep  sense  of  their  own 
imperfections,  the  Conmiittee  would  commend  the  result  of  their 
labours  to  the  favourable  consideration  of  the  Board,  as  also  of  the 
Society,  and  of  the  Christian  public.  They  claim  no  special  free- 
dom from  error ;  they  may,  very  possibly,  not  always  have  fully 
carried  out  their  own  rules ;  they  may  have  committed  over- 
sights. But  they  shrink  from  no  responsibility ;  and  they  have 
no  desire  to  cover  up,  either  what  they  have  done,  or  what  they 
have  left  undone.     The  thing  has  not  been  done  in  a  corner. 

As  illustrating  the  necessity  of  the  present  collation,  and  the 
remarks  already  made  upon  the  exposure  to  variation  and  error  in 
the  printing  of  so  many  millions  of  copies,  it  may  suffice  here  to 
mention,  that  the  number  of  variations  recorded  by  the  collator 
solely  in  the  text  and  punctuation  of  the  six  copies  compared,  falls 
but  little  short  of  Twentjj  Four  Thousand.  Yet  of  all  this  great 
number,  there  is  not  one,  which  mars  the  integrity  of  the  text,  or 
affects  any  doctrine  or  precept  of  the  Bible, 

In  thus  closing  their  labours,  the  Committee  desire,  with 
grateful  praise  to  God,  distinctly  and  formally  to  state,  that  no 
decision  ivhatevcr  has  been  made,  a?id  nolhins^  ivhatever  has  been 
done,  except  ivith  ENTIRE  UNANIBIITY  on  the  part  of  the 
Committee  and  those  acting  tvith  them. 

In  behalf  also  of  their  able  coadjutor,  the  Rev.  I\[r.  ]\rcLane, 
the  Committee  would  record  their  testimony  to  his  fidelity,  dili- 
gence, and  accuracy,  in  the  work  of  collation,  and  in  bringing  to 
their  notice  the  various  points  wiiich  required  attention.  His  task 
has  been  one  of  great  labour,  requiring  minute  accuracy  and 


82  REPORT    OF    THE    COMMITTEE    ON    VERSIONS. 

much  patience.  May  he  find  a  rich  reward  in  the  precious  fruit 
of  knowledge  and  experience  thus  acquired  ;  and  so  be  permitted 
to  reap  an  abundant  harvest  in  the  Master's  field. 

In  conclusion,  the  Committee  would  present  for  consideration 
and  adoption  by  the  Board  the  two  following  Resolutions  : 

1.  That  the  Octavo  Reference  Bible,  now  in  the  course  of 
preparation  under  the  direction  of  the  Committee  on  Versions,  be 
adopted  as  the  Standard  Copy  of  this  Society ;  to  which  all  future 
editions  published  by  the  Society  shall  be  conformed. 

2.  That,  in  order  to  carry  out  the  preceding  Resolution,  the 
Committee  on  Versions  be  charged  with  the  supervision  of  the 
Press ;  and  the  Superintendent  of  Printing  and  the  Proof  Read- 
ers be  responsible  to  them. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 


GARDINER  SPRING, 
THOMAS  COCK, 
SAMUEL  H.  TURNER. 
EDWARD  ROBINSON, 
THO]\IAS  E.  VERMILYE, 
JOHN  MCLINTOCK, 
RICHARD  S.  STORRS,  Jb. 


Committee 

on 

Versions. 


BiBUi  House,  May  1st,  1851. 


''""«"»»   IhfokxKal  S»mii 


in"y-Sp««  Lihai 


1    1012  01131   5746 


DATE  DUE 


HIGHSMITH  #45230 


